Modular synthesis of well-defined macromolecular architectures

Click chemistry and the copper(I)-catalyzedcycloaddition of azides and terminal alkynes inparticular has recently taken a tremendous flight inthe field of polymer chemistry. One of the mainreasons for this revolution stems from the fact thatscientists want to gain control over polymerstructures in order to adapt to a specificapplication environment. Nowadays a wide range ofliving and controlled polymerization techniques isavailable to prepare polymer architectures with alarge variety of distinct topologies functionalitypredetermined degree of polymerization and narrowmolecular weight distribution. In combination withspecific and efficient coupling chemistry like aclick reaction macromolecular architectures can besynthesized which are hard to assess otherwise. Inthis respect click chemistry absolutely has addedvalue in polymer science...This book reviews the use of the copper(I)-catalyzedcycloaddition of azides and alkynes along with thecontrolled radical polymerization technique atomtransfer radical polymerization. This methodology wasapplied in order to prepare AB and ABC type blockcopolymers macrocyclic polymers and to attachbiomolecules.